Tour Operators
TICO Names New Board Members At AGM
Following its annual general meeting on June 26, TICO's board of directors has named Brett Walker as its new vice-chair. Walker is the general manager for Collette Vacations, Canada. The Vice Chair appointment is for one year until TICOs next AGM to be held in 2019. During the AGM, Robert Townshend, founder of Total Advantage Travel and Tours, was acclaimed as an elected director. Townshend will serve a three-year term, replacing retiring board member Tisha Saunders. Nicole Bursey was named by the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) to be part of the TICO Board,...
Learn, Earn And Win With Sunwing
Sunwing is encouraging agents to Learn, Earn, and WIN as part of its partner of the month promotion with four of Cuba's most popular resort chains: Royalton Luxury Resorts, Memories Resort & Spa, Grand Memories Resorts, Sanctuary at Grand Memories Resorts and Starfish Resorts. From now until July 31, agents can earn double the STAR Agent Reward Points that convert to cash on new bookings (including groups) to these top-rated resorts. To help them make those all important bookings, agents can also take advantage of a series of webinars and training opportunities to learn more...
Iberostar looks to the future
Fresh off a €500 million facelift across its European properties with renovations and new openings, and amidst a further €700 million in upgrades and future investment in the Americas, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts’ ambitious global expansion plan is well underway. As their product continues to evolve to mainly four and five-star properties, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, which has a presence in 70 destinations in 17 countries across 37,100 rooms, is educating the trade on the changes and what the new value proposition is for clients. “Specifically Canada is for us a very...
Brazil Posts Solid Gains From Canada
A big improvement in the processing of visas for visiting Brazil has resulted in a jump in visitor visa applications to the country, said a tour operator executive in Vancouver recently. A new electronic visa program has vastly reduced visa processing times, to an estimated approval period of 72 hours. Since January 18th the new electronic visa fee is USD $40 plus a service fee of USD $4.24 -- in Canadian dollars that would be approximately CAD $59. (Complete details are available by clicking here). Visitor visa applications have jumped by about 47%, said Don Forster, the Latin...
TravelBrands Teams Up With Softvoyage
TravelBrands will offer thousands of hotels located in hundreds of cities worldwide through SIREV, a solution managed by Softvoyage. SIREV is a shopping solution offered to Canadian travel professionals. Developed and managed by Softvoyage, SIREV provides an easy-to-use web-based solution to the travel industry. Through this partnership, TravelBrands is increasing its hotel offerings to tens of thousands of hotels and properties across the globe. This updated distribution supports TravelBrands goal of giving agents and consumers access to the world. Travel agents can access...
TTC In Print
The Travel Corporation Canada (TTC) has launched its new online brochure portal – TTC in Print. Travel advisors and their respective agencies can now order brochures directly from The Travel Corporation Canada's roster of brands that include Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Cost Saver, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, Contiki and Busabout. The new online procurement site will be housed at TTC's 20,000 sq. foot, in-house warehouse that will be located at its Toronto headquarters. With over 500 pallet locations, with room to expand as needed, agents will now be able to receive their...
Insight Showcases USA, Canada In 2019
Insight Vacations' enhanced 2019 USA & Canada Premium Escorted Journeys collection features 15 journeys crafted to encourage clients to explore North America’s most majestic landscapes, scenic destinations, and culturally diverse places. Offering over 35 Insight Experiences – from joining a lobster fisherman aboard his boat in Shediac Bay to Sonoma wine tasting while visiting the Madrone Family vineyards to meeting the Alaskan champion dog team of high-speed huskies – guests will be staying at accommodations inside several national parks, including the Grand Canyon Lodges and...
Savouring The Wonders Of Australia
Wine and cuisine continue to lead the tourism promotions agenda for Australia, as demonstrated at a recent Australia tourism event in Vancouver. The hosts came to The Loft at Earl’s in Vancouver’s trendy Yaletown district with plenty of wine on hand to tempt attendees. “Australia has some of the world’s best wines because we have some of the oldest vines, in ideal growing conditions,” said Robert Keddy, the head of commercial partnerships for the Americas at the Tourism Australia office in Los Angeles. Australia has recently passed Chile as the world’s seventh largest...